Music and Lenses

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The small art gallery was tucked between a cozy bookstore and a quiet café, its warm glow spilling onto the snowy street. A banner outside announced the exhibition—Moments in Winter, a showcase of photographs capturing the beauty of the season. Taehyung hesitated at the entrance, glancing at Jungkook, who was already grinning in excitement.

"I promise it's worth it," Jungkook said, nudging Taehyung playfully before stepping inside.

The gallery was intimate, with dimmed lights highlighting each framed photograph on the walls. The scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air, likely from a small refreshments table at the back. A soft instrumental melody played through the speakers, blending seamlessly with the quiet murmurs of the visitors.

Jungkook led Taehyung to one of the first pieces—a black-and-white photograph of an elderly man sitting alone on a park bench, watching the snowfall. The details were sharp: the lines on his face, the way his gloved hands clutched a steaming cup of coffee, the serene yet melancholic expression in his eyes.

"What do you think?" Jungkook asked, turning to Taehyung.

Taehyung studied the image carefully. "It feels… like a song without music," he murmured.

Jungkook raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

Taehyung let his gaze linger on the photograph a moment longer before answering. "There's a story here. You can feel it even without knowing the man or his thoughts. It's like a melody you recognize but can't quite place."

Jungkook's expression softened, and a small smile played on his lips. "That's exactly what I love about photography. It's like freezing time, capturing a feeling in a single frame. Just like music captures emotion in sound."

Taehyung nodded slowly. "They're different, but maybe not so different after all."

Jungkook grinned, clearly pleased by Taehyung's response. He gestured for him to follow as they moved through the gallery, stopping at various pieces—an outstretched hand catching snowflakes, children building a snowman, a couple dancing under twinkling streetlights. Each photograph told a story without words, much like how Taehyung's compositions expressed emotions he struggled to voice.

At one particular piece, Taehyung found himself pausing longer than before. It was a picture of a frost-covered piano sitting outside in an empty town square. The keys were dusted with snow, the surrounding chairs vacant, as if waiting for an unseen audience.

"This one," Taehyung said quietly, staring at it. "It feels… familiar."

Jungkook studied the image beside him, then glanced at Taehyung with curiosity. "Because of the piano?"

Taehyung hesitated before nodding. "Music has always been my way of speaking. Even when no one listens, it's still there. This photo… it reminds me of that."

Jungkook's voice was softer now. "Music is your way of capturing moments, isn't it?"

Taehyung blinked, surprised by how easily Jungkook understood him. He had spent years struggling to explain this feeling to others, yet Jungkook had grasped it almost immediately.

Before he could respond, Jungkook suddenly took out his camera. "Can I take a picture of you?"

Taehyung frowned slightly. "Why?"

Jungkook chuckled. "Because this is a moment too. You, standing here, lost in thought, surrounded by art that speaks to you." He tilted his head. "It's the kind of picture that tells a story."

Taehyung hesitated, then gave a small nod. Jungkook lifted his camera, and for a few seconds, there was only the soft click of the shutter.

When Jungkook lowered the camera, he smiled. "Perfect."

Taehyung wasn't sure what Jungkook saw through his lens, but for the first time in a long while, he felt like someone was truly seeing him.